A Body of Practical Divinity

3. Original sin retards and hinders us in the exercises of God's Worship. Whence is all that dullness and deadness in Religion? it is the Fruit of Original sin: it is this rocks us asleep in Duty, Rom. 7.19. The good that I would I do not. Sin is compared to a weight, Hebr. 12.1. A Man that hath weights tied to his Legs, cannot run so fast: it is like that Fish Pliny speaks of, a Sea-Lamprey, that cleaves to the Keel of the Ship, and hinders its progress when it us under Sail.

3. Original sin retards and hinders us in the exercises of God's Worship. Whence is all that dulness and deadness in Religion? it is the Fruit of Original sin: it is this rocks us asleep in Duty, Rom. 7.19. The good that I would I do not. Sin is compared to a weight, Hebr. 12.1. A Man that hath weights tied to his Legs, cannot run so fast: it is like that Fish Pliny speaks of, a Sea-Lamprey, that cleaves to the Keel of the Ship, and hinders its progress when it us under Sail.

4. Original sin, though it lies latent in the Soul, and be as a Spring which runs under ground, yet oft it breaks forth unexpectedly. Christian, thou canst not believe that evil which is in thy heart, and which will break forth suddenly if God leave thee; 2 Kings 8.13, 15. Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? Hazael could not believe he had such a root of bitterness in his heart, that he should rip up the Women with Child, Is thy servant a dog? yes, and worse then a dog, when that Original Corruption within was stirred up. If one had come to Peter, and said, Peter within a few hours thou wilt deny Christ; he would have said, Is thy servant a dog? But alas Peter did not know his own heart, nor how far that Corruption within would prevail upon them. The Sea may be calm, and look clear, but when the Wind blows, how doth it rage and foam? so, though now thy heart seems good, yet when a Temptation blows, how may Original Sin discover it self, making thee foam with Lust and Passion. Who would have thought to have found Adultery in David, and Drunkenness in Noah, and Cursing in Job? If God leave a Man to himself, how suddenly and scandalously may Original sin break forth in the holiest Men alive.